Date

4-7-2026

Department

School of Health Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences (PhD)

Chair

Eric Sobolewski

Keywords

VO2max, VO2peak, indirect calorimetry, firefighter, occupational physiology, cardiorespiratory fitness, NFPA

Disciplines

Physiology | Sports Sciences

Abstract

The purpose of this study aimed to investigate and compare V̇O2max levels between firefighters and age-matched individuals from the general population. This study used a quantitative, comparative, cross-sectional design to assess differences in directly measured V̇O2max with a breath-by-breath portable analyzer between firefighters and matched civilians, determine the percentage of firefighters meeting NFPA recommended fitness thresholds, and examine the accuracy of estimated V̇O2max values. A total sample size of 52 participants (26 per group) participated in this study. Firefighters exhibited significantly higher directly measured V̇O2max and V̇O2peak than age-, sex-, and BMI-matched individuals from the general population. Firefighters in this sample, on average, demonstrated CRF levels significantly above the NFPA-recommended minimum V̇O2max threshold. Among firefighters, directly measured V̇O2max and V̇O2peak was significantly greater than FRIEND-predicted. In the general population, directly measured V̇O2max did not differ significantly from FRIEND-predicted. However, directly measured V̇O2peak was significantly greater than FRIEND-predicted. While this study was the first to assess V̇O2max differences between active-duty firefighters and sedentary desk workers from the general population utilizing a portable breath-by-breath metabolic analyzer, future research could build upon these findings by assessing V̇O2max under simulated occupational conditions, refining predictive V̇O2max equations for firefighter populations and by comparing multiple V̇O2max testing protocols within the same individuals.

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